Major General G.A. Chandrasiri
Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army former Jaffna Security
Forces Commanders
An
officer from the Sri Lanka Armoured Corp, Major General G.A.
Chandrasiri as the Jaffna Security Forces Commander, took
positive steps to defend the Jaffna peninsula from number of
attacks from the LTTE and commanded troops of the 53 and 55
offensive Divisions to destroy LTTE’s strongest defences in
Muhamalai and Kilali which was considered as the national
front.
Major General Mendaka Samarasinghe Security Forces
Commander, Jaffna
It
was under his command the troops of the Sri Lanka Army
launched the humanitarian operation in Mavil Aru, in June
2006 and to capture the areas in the Trincomalee South
including Muttur, Sampur, Upparu, Gangai, Manirasakulam and
the areas surrounding the Trincomalee harbour as he
commanded 22 Division in Trincomalee. Even after
assuming duties as Jaffna Security Forces commander in
December 2008 he commanded the troops of the 53 and 55
Divisions to liberate the entire Jaffna peninsula from the
clutches of the LTTE and to liberate the entire North
Eastern coast up to Mullaitivu North with the deployment of
troops of the 55 Division.
Major General Jagath Dias General Officer Commanding, 57
Division
A
senior officer of the Gajaba Regiment, Major General Jagath
Dias took up the challenge of commanding the 57 offensive
Division in the Vanni Liberation operation in the mid of
Year 2007 after Brigadier Sumith Manawadu. Major General
Jagath Dias commanded his troops to capture sacred Madhu
Church in April 25, 2008 the first significant victory
achieved by the 57 Division.
Then onward the 57 Division captured the significant
townships Palampiddi, Periyamadu, Thunukkai, Mallavi and
Akkarayankulam, Murikkandi and Iranamadu. Capturing
Kilinochchi was the highest achievement by the 57 Division
under his command.
Later he also commanded his troops to capture
Ramanathanpuram and Visuamadu towns.
Major General Kamal Gunaratne General Officer
Commanding, 53 Division
Another
battle hardened officer from the Gajaba Regiment, Major
General Kamal Gunaratne first commanded the 55 Division in
Jaffna and later appointed as the GOC of the 53 Division. He
commanded his troops to capture Muhamalai, Pallai,
Soranpattu and Elephant Pass.
Then his Division was moved to Mankulam and later
deployed in the battle to capture Puthukudiyirippu. It was
his troops who captured the Eastern edge of the Nanthikadal
lagoon along with the Task Force VIII troops.
In the final battle it was the troops under his command
who recover the body of the Tiger leader Velupillai
Prabhakaran in the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon in
Vellamulivaikkal.
Major General Nandana Udawatta Security Forces
Commander, Mullaitivu former GOC of the 59 Division
Currently
the Overall Operations Commander Anuradhapura, Major General
Nandana Udawatta was the first GOC of the 59 offensive
Division which began operations from Weli Oya sector to
clear the entire Mullaitivu jungle including that of the
famous 1-4 Base complex of the LTTE. He took up the
challenge of clearing the Mullaitivu jungle which became a
challenge for the Indian Peace Keeping Force too in late
1980’s. That
was one of the difficult battle he had to fight in the
thick jungles in isolation where LTTE had alls their bases.
But faced this challenge ultimately capturing the strategic
Tiger stronghold Mullaitivu in January 2008.Nayaru, Alampil,
Mulliyavali, Thanniuttu and Mullaitivu towns were major
milestones passed by the 59 Division under his command.
Brigadier Satyapriya Liyanage Commander Task Force III
Having
commenced operations from the Vannivilankulam in November
2008, Brigadier Liyanage commanded his troops to capture key
junction town Mankulam on the A-9 road, Olumadu and
Ampakamam in the East of A-9 road. The troops of the Task
Force 111 also recovered huge stocks of LTTE assets in and
around Iranamadu Tank area.
Brigadier Prasanna de Silva General Officer Commanding
55 Division
A
battle hardened Infantry Officer Brigadier Prasanna Silva
initially commanded the troops in the Mavil Aru battle and
to liberate Vakarai in the year 2006 and 2007.
He was later appointed as the General Officer Commanding
of the 55 Division in Jaffna to command his troops to
capture Nagarkovil, Kudarappu, Chempionpattu in the Eastern
coast of the Jaffna peninsula. Later he commanded the 55
Division to capture Chundikulam and Chalai to capture the
entire North Eastern coast up to Mullaitivu North.
During the final battle in the Mullaitivu North Brigadier
Prasanna Silva commanded the 59 Division troops to capture
Vadduvakkal causeway clearing the path for the civilians to
escape towards military controlled areas.
Brigadier Shavendra Silva General Officer Commanding 58
Division
Another
senior officer attached to Gajaba Regiment, Brigadier
Shavendra Silva was first appointed as the Commander of the
Task Force I which was later elevated as the 58 Division,
that was the second offensive Division to join the Vanni
liberation operation.
A battle hardened officer, Brigadier Silva commanded his
troops from the Mannar towards Pooneryn to fully liberate
the North Western coast from the clutches of the LTTE having
capturing major Sea Tiger bases Vidathalthivu, Iluppakadaval
Nachchikuda, Iranativ, Devil’s Point to reach Pooneryn.
It was a major victory for the Security Forces as they
could open the first land route to the Jaffna through A-32
road.
Then he commanded his troops to advance along the
Pooneryn Paranthan road to capture Paranthan junction with
the dawn of the year 2009 and later to capture key
strongholds of the LTTE Kilinochchi and Elephant Pass and to
reach the North Eastern coast having capturing Tharmapuram,
Visuamadu and Puthukudiyiruppu. His highest achievement
came on April 20, 2009 as he commanded his troops along with
the Commando and Special Forces troops to liberate 117,000
people trapped inside the No Fire Zone and to contribute
towards the last battle in Karyanmullivaikkal in the
Mullaitivu North in which the Tiger leader Velupillai
Prabhakaran was killed.
Brigadier Chagie Gallage General Officer Commanding 59
Division
He
first commanded the commando troops in the Thoppigala
liberation operation which was considered the pinnacle of
the Eastern liberation operation.
He was later appointed as the Task Force I commander and
commanded his troops to capture Silavatura in September
2007.
Later he was appointed as the Director Training of the
Army Headquarters. He was sent specially sent to 59 Division
to overlook the operational
matters. It was under his supervision the Forward
Defences in the entire Mullaitivu front which had helped
greatly to lay siege on the last terrain of the LTTE in
Mullaitivu North leaving no room for the LTTE to escape into
Mullaitivu jungles.
Brigadier Rohana Bandara Commander Task Force II
An
engineer officer Brigadier Bandara commanded the troops of
the Task Force II which was formed in June 2008, from
Palamoddai in the West of A-9 road giving support for the 57
Division to continue their advance towards Kilinochchi.
It was his troops who captured Navi village, Puliyankulam,
Kanakarayankulam and Udayarkattukulam tank bund during the
Vanni liberation operation.
Colonel Nishantha Wanniarachchi Commander Task Force IV
Colonel
Nishantha Wanniarachchi commanded the troops of the Task
Force IV which was formed in December 2008, to capture
Nedunkerni, Oddusudan and Kereridattu towns. He later
commanded his troops to capture massive arms and ammunitions
stocks and major Tiger bases in the along the Oddusudan -
Puthukudiyiruppu road.
Colonel G.V. Ravipriya Commander Task Force VIII
An
artillery officer, Colonel G.V. Ravipriya first contributed
towards the Vanni liberation operation, as one of the senior
Brigade Commander of the 57 Division and contributed for
major victories until the 57 Division captured strategic
Akkarayankulam village. In was in the first quarter in the
year 2008 he was appointed as the Commander of the Task
Force 8 which initially commenced operations under the 53
Division.
It was under his command the troops attached to Task
Force 8 could achieve many military victories in the
Puthukudiyiruppu South and foiled major LTTE attempt to flee
from the Karayanmullivaikkal area in the last battle.
They also contributed for the
final victory
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Artillery Brigade Commander Brigadier Priyantha
Napagoda |
Special Forces Brigade Commander Colonel Athula
Kodippili |
Commando Brigade Commander Colonel Ralph Nugera |
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